Companion Animals

Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Dogs: Welfare and Correction

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect that, if corrected early, allows dogs to live a normal healthy life with excellent welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

PDA is the most common congenital heart defect requiring treatment in dogs
More common in females and in Poodles, Collies and Pomeranians
Causes a left-to-right shunt leading to volume overload of the left heart
Signs include a continuous machinery murmur audible from birth
Minimally invasive catheter-based closure is now the treatment of choice

Welfare Considerations

PDA has an excellent welfare prognosis when corrected early — dogs treated before cardiac failure develops recover completely and live normal lives. Without correction, congestive heart failure develops within months to years, causing significant suffering. The condition is detectable at the first puppy examination if murmurs are properly assessed. Breeding affected dogs perpetuates the defect within lines. Screening and responsible breeding are the preventive tools.

What You Can Do

Ensure all puppies receive thorough cardiac auscultation at first veterinary examination
Seek specialist cardiology referral promptly if PDA murmur is identified
Do not breed from dogs diagnosed with PDA
Advocate for cardiac screening of breeding dogs in predisposed breeds
Support research into the genetic basis of PDA to enable carrier detection